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Jessica Murphy, Parliamentary Bureau

Feb 11, 2013

, Last Updated: 5:51 PM ET

OTTAWA - Every senator could face an interrogation over their housing allowance as the government attempts to cool a political hot potato.

On Monday, Government Senate Leader Marjory LeBreton and Opposition Leader James Cowan urged the Upper Chamber's board of internal economy in a letter to interview each senator who claimed a secondary residence allowance in order "to confirm the legitimacy of such claims."

Auditors are now scrutinizing each senator's health card, driver's licence, 2011 income tax return and voting records to ensure they are indeed residents in the provinces they represent.

The process began in January after questions were raised over Conservative Senators Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau and Liberal Sen. Mac Harb's taxpayer-funded housing allowance.